SnipeFu's Definitive Guide to Energy Blasters V3.0
By
Airhammer,
Posted on: 2004-11-09 13:44 in Player Guides
Just wanted to pipe in quickly and mention that Activation Accelerations, also known decrease interupt time..do not actually accelerate activation
Here's what they do
Let's say you have Energy Snipe
the Activation time as proven above (thank you BTW) is 4 seconds
Unenhanced, of those 4 seconds the first 2 seconds, anything that hits you (think things that would interupt a tp attempt) can cause you to abort the snipe.
If you enhance this aspect, it still takes 4 seconds to go off, but for only 1 of those seconds you are interuptable.
the name Activation Acceleration is VERY misleading, as it does not speed up the activation or the animation for the activation, all it does is shrink the interuptible portion of the activation time.
It still takes 4 seconds, it just makes the window of oppertunity for someone to stop you smaller.
(my numbers are approximate and rounded off for ease of example)
If you build a hero with an interuptible attack in Hero Planner and slot it with AA's you will see that the act time does not change. for NRG Snipe ( sorry Arcanville just quoting the hero planner 
) it Always stays at 6.... what you are decreasing is what percentage of that 6 seconds you can be interuptted for, unfortunatly Hero Planner doesn't give that stat, and I can't think of a reliable way to get numbers for it till there is PvP, and I can get a friend to stand still while I shoot him while he brawls me.
The thing I love about the decreased interrupt period is that half way through my snipe's animation I'm already moving around the battle preparing for my next shot.
So if the fight is ugly, say I back off to fire snipe from a safe distance and to assess the current situation, before snipe has fired off, I am moving back into place for my next shot.
The Legion of Freedom
[ QUOTE ]
Just wanted to pipe in quickly and mention that Activation Accelerations, also known decrease interupt time..do not actually accelerate activation
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Actually, all the enhancements I've seen call this "Decrease Interrupt Time." I've never heard of them referred to as "accelerate activation." Is that a hero planner term, or are there interrupt time enhancements that call themselves "accelerrate activation"?
My experience matches yours, though, in that these enhancements do decrease interrupt time for interruptable actions, but do not in any way appear to alter activation time or total time.
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[ QUOTE ]
Cool 4 seconds 6 seconds.. dont matter to me.. aim buildup.. snipe.. dead..
thats all that matter to me..
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What it confirms is that knockback makes snipe usable in combat in situations other than the initial strike, something I've always known implicitly, since I use snipe in combat. If you knock something over, like a boss, the couple of seconds it will take for him to get up means you can get a snipe shot off without interruption (assuming you aren't surrounded by other nasties). I've heard that AR's snipe is 6 seconds, so this is an advantage of our snipe over other sets.
It also means if you are in a group fighting an AV, use snipe if you can. Its net dpa is between bolt and blast - so your net dps will go up.
BTW, if you have the endurance, torrent should also be used. Its fast activation time means even though its damage is low, its dpa is surprisingly high. Its dpe sucks against a single target, but if you are running conserve power or have RA on you, during an AV fight torrent also boosts your damage output significantly.
To maximize damage against something like an AV, cycle bolt, blast, and burst as fast as they recharge, but fire snipe preferentially over bolt, and fire torrent every time it recharges. Use BU and Aim when you can. If you have explosive blast, fire it only if slowed or everything is recharging, which is very rare for energy with all its primary attacks. This isn't 100% optimal, but its easy to remember. This presumes equal slotting of all attacks, and I know not everyone 5+1 slots torrent. If you don't, fire torrent during recharge gaps when you don't have an available attack.
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I would like to thank everyone who helped me and gave me advice. I hit level 32 a few days ago and and loving Nova. I have learned so much from this post its unreal.
I am constantly teaming with +3-+4 groups and that was before I got Nova.
I seriously hardly ever die because I know my limitations and I stick within them
SnipeFU, MsKnight/EnergyStar, Deadboy Champion, Jury Duty, Maelstrom and a host of others have taught me many things.
Things I have learned.
Six Slotted Hover RULES and I mean it freaking RULES big time.
Stealth and SS is definitely the way to go. I am the super sneaky sniper now.
Get that interrupt reducer in your snipe. There is nothing like being able to position yourself quickly for the next shot while waiting for snipe to go off.
Power Boost doesnt seem like a big dealm, but when it increased my KB and Boosts my speed it makes a difference. When I get Total Focus and a boss is stunned for 20 whole seconds.. it will make a HUGE difference.
I learned that AoE is not a style for me. I dont managa aggro very well and I solo a lot. The last thing I want is Explosive Blast leaving a bunch of angry mostly dead instead of ALL dead minions pissed at me.
I learned that I can be a bosses works night mare. On the teams I have been playing on recently everyone calls you.. Yo AIR Void take him out.. and usually withing 3-5 shots he's dead.
Power Push has saved many a teamate. Just the other night a fire blaster friend had aggroed a boss that was rolling up on her. I saw it .. Power Push... Boss goes flying.. saved her bacon..
Now I am waiting to get Range Boost and Total Focus. I decided I only need one AoE power and thats Nova...
Thank Guys.. As long as I have skittles to help me with the mezzing I am ok.. I know it gets harder after level 40.. but then it should.
The hard things I can do--- The impossible just take a little bit longer.
If numbers are so much more important than a teammate who is fun to play with, forget about the game altogether and go play with a calculator instead. -Claws and Effect-
That's why I worte this guide and troll these boards on a daily basis. Posts like yours. I'm so glad that it's been a help to you and that you kick a$$. It seems like you are having a lot of fun.
If you stick with your current tactics you won't have that many problems through level 50, trust me. Blasters may have some glaring problems as a whole, but it's nothing that a good player can not compensate for.
Cheers, Airhammer.
The Legion of Freedom
You bet, Airhammer!
I hit 50 with Barlow Girl a couple weeks ago and had a blast (pun intended) getting there, largely with thanks to SnipeFu's guide and the community here.
Glad you took Power Push. Man, I waited until my 40's to get that one--big mistake. I used it ALL the time once I got it.
My favorite power was Energy Torrent, which I don't think you took because you don't like the AoE, but I did enjoy that one. I rarely used Total Focus until the late 30s. It's great on the Peregrine Island docks and in the late 40s by the Portals in PI. Lots of single baddies there you can stun with TF and then kill with no effort at all.
Incidentally, I took Range Boost at 49 and wished I'd taken it a LOT sooner. It's great if nothing else because it extends Power Burst, one of the "too short of range" powers, imo. Many times I hit Range Boost, stunned a guy with TF, hit a guy pretty far away with Power Burst, then returned to the stunned guy to finish him off.
I was thinking about ET or EB but I realize that I am doing very very well as a Single target monster. I am slowly but surely becoming a bosses worst nightmare.I figure that I will get both Bone Smasher and Total Focus.. then my boss attack chain will look like this...
SS and stealth on..
First mt boosts which I call Christmas Time ( look at all the pretty colors )
Conserver Power
Power Boost
Aim
Buildup
Total Focus aka Droppin the Hammer
Now since you are now stunned for TWENTY Seconds
Bonesmaher aka Hammerdown
Power Burst ( no name yet still thinkin )
and I really wanna be nasty
Nova aka the BIG BANG ATTACK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The hard things I can do--- The impossible just take a little bit longer.
If numbers are so much more important than a teammate who is fun to play with, forget about the game altogether and go play with a calculator instead. -Claws and Effect-
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First mt boosts which I call Christmas Time ( look at all the pretty colors )
Conserver Power
Power Boost
Aim
Buildup
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MsKnight has been known to show off with this combo from time to time as well 
throw in a boost range and you've got even more pretty lights.
The Legion of Freedom
Ohh Boost range is coming believe me.. I plan to use that power alot.. I wish I could make TWO things perma.
The hard things I can do--- The impossible just take a little bit longer.
If numbers are so much more important than a teammate who is fun to play with, forget about the game altogether and go play with a calculator instead. -Claws and Effect-
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I rarely used Total Focus until the late 30s.
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Well, if you wanna get all technical-like, no one does
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It's great on the Peregrine Island docks and in the late 40s by the Portals in PI. Lots of single baddies there you can stun with TF and then kill with no effort at all.
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I hit so many things with total focus around the portal that the villains around there used to just fall down and pretend to be dead when I was in the area. I enjoyed it so much that I never figured out in all that time that in fact, if you have boost range or slot for range, you can snipe everything in that area except for fake nemesis and master illusionists, and they really can't do much of anything to you if you hover above them. Especially death mages - its really sad watching them try to climb the hill just to get closer to you (not so sad if you hover too close to it and they actually do get into mez range, though). Only the possessed scientists can fly up to get you, and they are only minions and LTs - easy pickins.
You can in fact outrange fakes - theoretically. The problem is that fakes have about the same range as your visual targetting range, so even if you outrange them, well, you can't really shoot them. Master Illusionists have crummy range, but they must have read the forums, because they too love 6-slotted hover. Sniping them is not a good idea, at least from the air. On the ground, you'll be superspeed-kiting a lot.
I dont really notice a lot of singles near Portal, though, depending on time of day and who else might be in the area. Occasionally a lot of single behemoths, but its no fun thwacking a behemoth with TF, thats shooting fish in a parking lot. The fun part comes with the dual bosses - dual death mages were what I liked to tango with especially.
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Snipe, your guide just rocks! I used it as a tool since day one, it helped me mold Kymera into the butt kicking damage dealer she is today! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!! 
Ok looking toward the future and slots I can see that I am gonna start getting crunched for slots. Does this sound good
I am figuring four slots for Conserve Power
Bonesmasher I believe I can Six Slot
TI I think I will six slot ( one end redux and the rest damage redux )
FoN I think I can squeeze out four slots...
The reality is I have NO idea how many slots to put in TF. I was thinking six but now I am thinking maybe 2-4 max.
Any thoughts on this..
Thanks
The hard things I can do--- The impossible just take a little bit longer.
If numbers are so much more important than a teammate who is fun to play with, forget about the game altogether and go play with a calculator instead. -Claws and Effect-
Hey guys,
I got a couple of PM's from people asking about my build. They saw me in action and wanted to see what was under the hood
I'm lvl 37 now, But this is a proposed build up to 50. YMMV
Archetype: Blaster
Primary Powers - Ranged : Energy Blast
Secondary Powers - Support : Energy Manipulation
01 : Power Thrust kbkdis(01)
01 : Power Blast acc(01) dam(3) dam(5) dam(15) dam(19) dam(29)
02 : Power Bolt acc(02) dam(3) dam(5) dam(17) dam(27) dam(31)
04 : Build Up recred(04) recred(34) recred(37) recred(40)
06 : Hasten recred(06) recred(7) recred(7) recred(9) recred(13) recred(15)
08 : Power Burst acc(08) dam(9) dam(11) dam(17) dam(25) dam(29)
10 : Sniper Blast acc(10) dam(11) dam(13) dam(19) dam(27) inttim(31)
12 : Aim recred(12) recred(34) recred(39) recred(40)
14 : Super Speed runspd(14)
16 : Hurdle jmp(16)
18 : Swift runspd(18)
20 : Stamina endrec(20) endrec(21) endrec(21) endrec(23) endrec(23) endrec(25)
22 : Hover fltspd(22) fltspd(36) fltspd(36) fltspd(36) fltspd(37) defbuf(37)
24 : Conserve Power recred(24) recred(31) recred(34) recred(39)
26 : Stealth defbuf(26)
28 : Power Push recred(28)
30 : Power Boost recred(30) recred(43) recred(46)
32 : Nova recred(32) recred(33) dam(33) dam(33) dam(43) dam(43)
35 : Boost Range recred(35)
38 : Total Focus acc(38) dam(39) dam(40)
41 : Personal Force Field defbuf(41) defbuf(42) defbuf(42) defbuf(42)
44 : Temporary Invulnerability damres(44) damres(45) damres(45) damres(45) damres(46) damres(46)
47 : Force of Nature damres(47) damres(48) recred(48) recred(48) recred(50) recred(50)
49 : Fly fltspd(49) fltspd(50)
I still have questions about slotting TF. I live and breath BU+ AIM, so can I get away with the 2 slots? I believe that puts me over the damage cap. Or should I up that?
Thanks
If you live and breathe aim and buildup why not put 4 damages in TF so you can hit the cap if/when you want to with TF?
The Legion of Freedom
If you look at your nova slotting, I'm guessing you slotted 2rech/4dmg based on someone's recommendation. That recommendation is based on the fact that BU+Aim+4dmg = the blaster cap. BU+Aim is a heck of a lot of accuracy, so slotting more accuracy is not especially helpful against most targets a blaster is going to nova. Thus, 2rech makes the most sense to get faster nova cycles.
Same holds true for any other power - 4dmg + BU + Aim = the cap. However, if you always combo BU+Aim, you can only have it up every 30 seconds or so, there will be lots of times when you are attacking without BU/Aim coverage, so only slot powers 4dmg that you can always time with BU+Aim, not things like power blast. If you mainly use TF as an opener, BU+Aim+TF will be damage capped. But TF will come back in about 10 seconds or so, and if you need to reapply it, you'll have no way to boost its accuracy without popping insights. TF at the damage cap doesn't normally need to be reapplied against a single target (you've almost halved a boss' health), so this might not be a major problem. Unless you go after more than one boss.
I am kinda curious about some of your slotting. I've never seen a 6-slot hover with one defense slot. Is that mainly historical (originally 1 slot of defense and then the rest were added in as speed) or was there some other reason for that specific slotting.
Also, I'm wondering, since you have power burst heavily slotted, if you superspeed joust. I ask because I've found the end cost of SS and stealth to be too high to sustain constant attacking, so both of mine were slotted for endred (SS is plenty fast and a single slot of extra stealth defense didn't seem worth it).
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Here is my Blaster spec'd out until level 50
Advice is welcome please.
Ignore the color of the enhancements I am more interested in comments about slot placement
I am currently level 32.
Thank you.
Exported from version 1.5A of CoH Planner
http://joechott.com/coh
Archetype: Blaster
Primary Powers - Ranged : Energy Blast
Secondary Powers - Support : Energy Manipulation
01 : Power Thrust acc(01) dam(3) dam(3) dam(33) dam(33) dam(33)
01 : Power Bolt acc(01) dam(5) dam(5) dam(31) dam(31) dam(31)
02 : Power Blast acc(02) dam(7) dam(7) dam(27) dam(29) dam(29)
04 : Build Up recred(04) recred(9) recred(9)
06 : Power Burst acc(06) dam(11) dam(11) dam(13) dam(25) dam(27)
08 : Sniper Blast acc(08) inttim(13) dam(15) dam(15) dam(17) dam(17)
10 : Hasten recred(10) recred(19) recred(19) recred(21) recred(21) recred(23)
12 : Aim recred(12) recred(23) recred(25)
14 : Super Speed runspd(14)
16 : Hover fltspd(16) fltspd(34) fltspd(34) fltspd(34) fltspd(36) fltspd(36)
18 : Swift runspd(18)
20 : Health hel(20)
22 : Stamina endrec(22) endrec(36) endrec(37) endrec(37) endrec(37) endrec(39)
24 : Stealth endred(24)
26 : Power Push acc(26)
28 : Conserve Power recred(28) recred(39) recred(39) recred(42)
30 : Power Boost recred(30)
32 : Nova recred(32) recred(40) dam(40) dam(42) dam(40) dam(42)
35 : Boost Range recred(35) recred(43)
38 : Total Focus acc(38) dam(43) dam(43) dam(45) dam(45)
41 : Bone Smasher acc(41) dam(45) dam(46) dam(46) dam(46)
44 : Personal Force Field defbuf(44)
47 : Temporary Invulnerability endred(47) damres(48) damres(48) damres(48) damres(50)
49 : Force of Nature recred(49) recred(50) recred(50)
-------------------------------------------
01 : Brawl dam(01)
01 : Sprint runspd(01)
02 : Rest recred(02)
The hard things I can do--- The impossible just take a little bit longer.
If numbers are so much more important than a teammate who is fun to play with, forget about the game altogether and go play with a calculator instead. -Claws and Effect-
[ QUOTE ]
Here is my Blaster spec'd out until level 50
Advice is welcome please.
Ignore the color of the enhancements I am more interested in comments about slot placement
I am currently level 32.
Thank you.
Exported from version 1.5A of CoH Planner
http://joechott.com/coh
Archetype: Blaster
Primary Powers - Ranged : Energy Blast
Secondary Powers - Support : Energy Manipulation
01 : Power Thrust acc(01) dam(3) dam(3) dam(33) dam(33) dam(33)
01 : Power Bolt acc(01) dam(5) dam(5) dam(31) dam(31) dam(31)
02 : Power Blast acc(02) dam(7) dam(7) dam(27) dam(29) dam(29)
04 : Build Up recred(04) recred(9) recred(9)
06 : Power Burst acc(06) dam(11) dam(11) dam(13) dam(25) dam(27)
08 : Sniper Blast acc(08) inttim(13) dam(15) dam(15) dam(17) dam(17)
10 : Hasten recred(10) recred(19) recred(19) recred(21) recred(21) recred(23)
12 : Aim recred(12) recred(23) recred(25)
14 : Super Speed runspd(14)
16 : Hover fltspd(16) fltspd(34) fltspd(34) fltspd(34) fltspd(36) fltspd(36)
18 : Swift runspd(18)
20 : Health hel(20)
22 : Stamina endrec(22) endrec(36) endrec(37) endrec(37) endrec(37) endrec(39)
24 : Stealth endred(24)
26 : Power Push acc(26)
28 : Conserve Power recred(28) recred(39) recred(39) recred(42)
30 : Power Boost recred(30)
32 : Nova recred(32) recred(40) dam(40) dam(42) dam(40) dam(42)
35 : Boost Range recred(35) recred(43)
38 : Total Focus acc(38) dam(43) dam(43) dam(45) dam(45)
41 : Bone Smasher acc(41) dam(45) dam(46) dam(46) dam(46)
44 : Personal Force Field defbuf(44)
47 : Temporary Invulnerability endred(47) damres(48) damres(48) damres(48) damres(50)
49 : Force of Nature recred(49) recred(50) recred(50)
-------------------------------------------
01 : Brawl dam(01)
01 : Sprint runspd(01)
02 : Rest recred(02)
[/ QUOTE ]
It's my opinion that the power "Power Bolt" and "Power Push" are not really needed. I have an Nrg/Nrg Blaster now that, at level 21, has never taken any of those 2 ( My level 35 Energy/Dev still doesn't have any of them ).
It frees up two powers ( for something that provides either more defense or attack power ) and the slots that WOULD have been used there can now go to something more meaningful. With all the knockdown/up and single target damage that will be going on in this set you really do not need to worry about the knockback from PP and the damage from PB.
Just my playtested opinion
Too many 50's to list...
Thanks but I like Power Bolt its a very very nice filler attack while I am waiting for more powerful attacks to come back up.
Also I dont want another power and Power Push has no slots. That power has saved my bacon and my teamates on more than one occasion. Its great to be able to keep a boss on the ground with Power Push or knock someone away from a fellow teamate especially that defender who is helping me stay alive or the tank managing all the aggro.
Thanks but I am keeping those powers and those slots.
The hard things I can do--- The impossible just take a little bit longer.
If numbers are so much more important than a teammate who is fun to play with, forget about the game altogether and go play with a calculator instead. -Claws and Effect-
[ QUOTE ]
It's my opinion that the power "Power Bolt" and "Power Push" are not really needed. I have an Nrg/Nrg Blaster now that, at level 21, has never taken any of those 2 ( My level 35 Energy/Dev still doesn't have any of them ).
It frees up two powers ( for something that provides either more defense or attack power ) and the slots that WOULD have been used there can now go to something more meaningful. With all the knockdown/up and single target damage that will be going on in this set you really do not need to worry about the knockback from PP and the damage from PB.
Just my playtested opinion
[/ QUOTE ]
I put off Range and Power Push until the late 40s...and was VERY sorry I hadn't taken them sooner. Once you get into the habit of using them, you'll wonder how you did without. VERY great powers for a blaster, they are.
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It's my opinion that the power "Power Bolt" and "Power Push" are not really needed. I have an Nrg/Nrg Blaster now that, at level 21, has never taken any of those 2 ( My level 35 Energy/Dev still doesn't have any of them ).
It frees up two powers ( for something that provides either more defense or attack power ) and the slots that WOULD have been used there can now go to something more meaningful. With all the knockdown/backs and single target damage that will be going on in this set you really do not need to worry about the knockback from PP and the damage from PB.
Just my playtested opinion
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I put off Range and Power Push until the late 40s...and was VERY sorry I hadn't taken them sooner. Once you get into the habit of using them, you'll wonder how you did without. VERY great powers for a blaster, they are.
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Not to be an [censored] or anything but I did spend 2-3 hours on test trying to find some use for Power Push but never really understood why it's there in the 1st place.
The Energy primary has so many knockdowns/backs that PP is just a weaker version of everything else. Ya you can knock anything back A LONG way but so what? You have 4-5 powers that do just that -the distance
Once again, Just my thoughts on it
Edit : If you think PP is good why didn't you take Power Boost? ( seeing this from your slots in your sig )
Too many 50's to list...
[ QUOTE ]
The Energy primary has so many knockdowns/ups that PP is just a weaker version of everything else. Ya you can knock anything back A LONG way but so what? You have 4-5 powers that do just that -the distance
[/ QUOTE ]
Because none of them are a guaranteed knockback. Power Burst has a 60% chance to knockback, which for some is still too risky when you absolutely must have that knockback. Power Push is a guaranteed knockback, even on bosses. (There are some mobs highly resistant to knockback, but I have even managed to floor red conning zeus titan bosses with it) It's not a must, but for those blasters who need that guarantee of a knock in a pinch, this is the only power that will do it. Energy/Energy has so many tools to deal with every situation. Preference and play style will ultimately determine wether this is a power you want/need or not.
The Legion of Freedom
Well wouldn't you agree that if you need to use PP on a regular basis you're doing something wrong?
I mean how many times do you actually NEED to knockback a foe? Only when they get to close. If you are pulling them close to you ALL the time then you should be working on a new strategy.
I'm just trying to understand PP better. Don't take my post as an argument
Edit : Noticed I've been saying that Energy has knockUP when I should have been saying knockDOWN... sorry 'bout that
Too many 50's to list...
Cool 4 seconds 6 seconds.. dont matter to me.. aim buildup.. snipe.. dead..
thats all that matter to me..
The hard things I can do--- The impossible just take a little bit longer.
If numbers are so much more important than a teammate who is fun to play with, forget about the game altogether and go play with a calculator instead. -Claws and Effect-